Aeration sprinkler



Allg 14, 1951 E. G. GETnNs AERATION SPRINKLER Filed April e, 1947 jatenteolv ug. 14, A1951` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AERATION SPRINKLERJ Edwin G. Gettins, Los Angeles, Calif. YApplication April 8, 1947, Serial No. 740,073

4 Claims. l

This invention relates tol sprinklers or spray devices for irrigating lawns and other plant growth or for applying a spray of liquid for any other purposes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an aerator in the form of a sprinkler or spray device which will eject an aerated spray containing fresh atmospheric air whereby the soil or other medium which sustains plant life when irrigated with such a spray will be beneted as to fertility by the presence of the oxygen and other components ofv the atmospheric air carried thereto in the spray and, any matter or substance which is subject to beneiicial treatment by such an aerated spray may be so treated in a particularly efficacious matter with the sprinkler or spray device hereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an aeration sprinkler in which a novel and simply constructed jet pump means is actuated by the water stream passing through the sprinkler to induce into the stream a considerable amount of fresh atmospheric air which due to the construction and arrangement of the sprinkler aerates the stream and causes a nely divided aerated spray to be discharged so that the components of the air will aerate the soil which is being irrigated with the sprinkler to increase the fertility of the soil.

A further object is to provide an aeration sprinkler such as described in which a novel adjustable spray producing means and the jet pump means for inducting atmospheric air into the sprinkler are constructed and arranged to cooperate for producing a spray which is heavily saturated with air so that optimum amounts of the beneficial components of the air will be entrained in the spray.

Another object is to provide a sprinkler of the character described which is small, compact, consists of comparatively few parts and may be readily and inexpensively manufactured.

A further object is to provide an aeration sprinkler of the character described which will provide the benefits of aeration as hereinbefore .L

Fig. l is a side elevation of a sprinkler embodying the present invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modified form of this invention, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modied form of this invention.

Referring to the drawing more specically, 6 indicates a sprinkler vbase member having an elbow tting thereon affording a connection with a garden hose or like conduit 8 which is connected to a source of supply of water under pressure in a usual manner. The invention embodies a cylindrical sectional stand pipe 9 comprising an open ended intake pipe section Sa and an open ended elongated discharge pipe section 9b. The intake section 9a, is fitted with a coupling I8 adapted to be detachably screwed into engagement with the elbow 1. The pipe sections 9a and Sb have bores which are arranged in axial alignment and interposed between the pipe sections is a jet pump means Il comprising a construction adapted to induct fresh atmospheric air into a stream of water passing therethrough from the pipe section .9a into and through the pipe section 9b. The invention also embodies an adjustable spray producing means l2 at the outer or discharge end of the pipe section 9b arranged -to convert the stream of water discharged from such outer end into a Spray and for setting up a .back pressure interiorly of the pipe section 911i The base member .6 maybe of any suitable construction which will'support the stand pipe in upright position and afford connection of the sprinkler stand pipe with a source of supply of water under pressure as by means of the garden hose 8 here shown.

The lower section 8.a of the stand pipe is press iitted, welded or otherwise ,connected with the screw threaded coupling ID so that a leak-proof joint therewith is provided with the stand pipe as a whole may be detachable connected as here shown with the elbow 'l on the base 6.

As here shown the Jet pump means Il embodies 'an ntergral housing I3 on the lower end of the discharge pipe section 9o, which housing is formed with a sidewall encircling a cylindrical chamber having a diameter exceeding that of the internal diameters Yor bores of the pipe sectionsv 9a and 9b. The housing I3 has an internallythreaded open lower V,end which is detachably screwed into engagement with a screw threaded annulus I4 threaded or otherwise tightly xed on the upper end of the pipe section 9a. Arranged within the housing I3 is a jet pump nozzle I5 which is frustro-conical and has an outwardly projecting flange I6 at its lower or base end which seats on a perforated metering disk I'I resting on the annulus I4 and extending over the open upper end of the pipe section 9a; the disk II being formed with an annular row of perforations leading between the bore of the pipe section 9a and the interior of the conical nozzle I5, which perforations form a restricted intake to the nozzle for determining the volume of liquid owing from the pipe section =9a to the nozzle during a given length of time under a given pressure.

A tapered outwardly diverging deector member I8 is carried by the disk I'I as an integral part thereof or may be otherwise fixed thereto, which deector member extends through the nozzle I5 and into the lower or inner end portion of the pipe section 9b. The outer end of the deilector member I8 terminates in a flat transverse end wall having a circular margin extending concentric to and in spaced relation to the annular inner face of the pipe section 9b at a point contiguous to but spaced from the inner end of the pipe section 9a to form an annular jet orice at this point.

The ange I6 on the nozzle I5 is engaged by a shoulder I9 interiorly of the side wall of the housing I3 whereby when the internally screw threaded lower end of the housing I3 is screwed onto the annulus I4 in assembling the sprinkler, the shoulder I9 will collectively clamp the nozzle and the disk I'I in place. It is to be noted. that the perforated metering disk I'I is separable from the annulus I4 and nozzle I5 on detaching the housing I3 from the annulus I4; the outer end of the deflector member I8 being of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the reduced end of the nozzle I5 so that it may be passed therethrough either in assembling or disassembling the nozzle and disk. By this arrangement the disk I'I is removable to permit interchange of disks I'I having different sizes of perforations therein to accommodate the sprinkler for use under various water pressures.

The housing I3 has an end wall connecting with the pipe section 9b which is formed at the juncture of the interior of the housing I3 and the bore of the pipe section 9b with an opening; the portion of the end wall constituting the margins of the opening being beveled as indicated at I3a relative to which beveled portion the upper end of the nozzle I5 terminates in adjacent but spaced relation to define an annular converging space between the upper end of the nozzle and the end wall of the housing. As an annular jet of water is discharged from the nozzle I5 and deflected by the tapered member I8 against the inner surface of and passing longitudinally through the bore of the elongated pipe section I9, a sub-atmospheric pressure will be created interiorly of the housing I3. The cylindrical wall of the housing I3 is provided with a series of air intake openings through which atmospheric air will be inducted into the housing by and into the stream of water ejected from the nozzle I5 and passing through the bore of pipe section 9b. The tapered deflector I8 as here shown is spaced circumferentially from the upper edge of the nozzle and acts to deflect the annular stream of Water issuing from the nozzle angularly afforded by the screwed in cone.

outwardly against the wall of the bore of the pipe 9b so as to cause the atmospheric air drawn into the pipe 9b to be thoroughly intermingled with the stream so as to saturate it and thereby effect a heavy aeration of the water while flowing to discharge through the elongated pipe 9b. For this purpose the flat outer end of the deflector I8 and the angular jet orifice formed thereby is spaced remote from the discharge end of the pipe section 9b.

As here shown the adjustable spray producing means I2 comprises a deflecting cone 2I axially adjustably screw threaded on a screw threaded supporting rod 22 fixed to the pipe section. Fig. 2 shows how the rod 22 is centered in the pipe section 9 with its lower end bent right angularly and riveted as at 23 to the pipe section 9b at a point spaced above the jet pump means. The cone deector 2I has its apical portion adapted to extend into the beveled upper end l9c of the pipe 9b so that an annular outlet orifice is dened between the cone and the said beveled edge whereby an effective spray in a circular pattern will be discharged from the sprinkler. The cone may be adjusted toward or away from the edge 9c as desired to regulate the spray and the action of the jet pump means II and also set up a desired back pressure which with the annular jet impinged on the wall of the bore of the pipe 9b prevents air from passing out through the pipe without being mixed with the jet stream. A wing nut 24 is employed to releasably hold the cone 2I in adjusted position.

In the use of the sprinkler, after turning on the water, the operator may regulate the jet pump action and the spray best to intake through the openings 28 a maximum amount of atmospheric air and produce a richly aerated spray. This adjustment is effected by screwing the cone 2| inwardly until the water runs out through the air intake openings 20 as caused by the water being backed up by the resistance to discharge The operator now backs up, that is, screws out the cone until the ow of water through the openings 2D stops and then tightens the wing nut 24 to set the cone at this point whereby a maximum suction effect of the jet pump takes place and a maximum amount of atmospheric air will be inducted in the stream passing through the sprinkler thereby producing a richly aerated spray. The amount of air induced may be regulated by further adjustment of the cone 2I which therefore controls the action of the jet pump means as well as provides for regulating the characteristics of the spray.

It should be noted that the spray is discharged outwardly from the sprinkler so that no water will cascade or drop around the pipe and interfere with a free intake of fresh atmospheric air through the openings 20.

Since it has been well established that aeration of the soil is an important factor in soil fertility it is now apparent that the sprinkler of this invention will provide for an effective aeration of the soil thereby promoting the growth of plant life.

The sprinkler may also be advantageously used to apply an aerated spray to substances or matter which is subject to purication or other benet by the components of the air in the spray or which may otherwise be desirably eiected by the presence of the oxygen and other components of the aerated spray.

As shown in Fig. 4 I may use in the sprinkler a modified form of nozzle 25 which is the form of an inverted cup and has a ilange 2S which corresponds to the flange i6 on the nozzle I5. All of the parts shown in Fig. 4 except the nozzle 25 are of the same construction and arrangement as the corresponding parts in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 and are identified by the same reference characters. Jet orifices 27 are formed in the top of the nozzle 25 so as to direct jets angue larly upwardly and outwardly into the pipe section 9b to produce the suction effect for inducing iiow of air through the openings 20. This fori'n of nozzle consists of fewer parts than the nozzle shown in Fig. 2 and may in some instance-s be preferred.

Another modified `form of my invention is shown in Fig. and deals only witli the manner of supporting the rod for the 'spray delecting cone. Inthis modification, the rod 26 extends through the upper pipe section 9b and supports the cone (not here shown) in the same manner as shown in Fig. 2, but is anchored to the per; forated disk 29 by being riveted or otherwise fixed thereto. This makes it unnecessary to fasten the lov/er end of the rod to the pipe section 9b as shown at 23 at Fig. 2. Moreover this y mounting of the rod 28 makes it possible to support a conical deector 39 thereon within the nozzle l5 to serve the same purpose as the deiiector I3.

It should be noted that the coupling I6 makes it possible to detach the sprinkler from the base and couple it to a hose for use as a conventional hose nozzle.

While I have shown and described a speciiic embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modii'ications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a sprinkler, an open ended intake pipe section having inner and outer ends, an open ended elongated discharge pipe section having inner and outer ends, said pipe sections having bores arranged in axial alignment, a jet pump housing interposed between said pipe sections and connected thereto, said housing having a side Wall formed with a series of air intake openings opening to atmosphere and having an end wall formed with an opening leading to the bore of the elongated discharge pipe section at the inner end thereof, a tapered open ended nozzle in said housing having a reduced discharge end presented to the bore of the discharge pipe section and spaced therefrom and defining an annular space communicating with the interior of said housing around said nozzle, a diverging deiiector member projecting outwardly through the discharge end of said nozzle into the open inner end of said discharge pipe section and terminating at a point within the bore of said discharge pipe close to but spaced inwardly from the inner end of the latter and remote from the outer end thereof, said deflector member being spaced throughout from the discharge pipe section, and controllable spray producing means on the outer end of said pipe arranged to develop back pressure in said discharge pipe.

2. The structure called for in claim 1, together with a removeable perforated metering disk clamped between the open inner end of said intake pipe section and said nozzle and held in place together with said nozzle by the connection between said housing and said intake pipe.

3. The structure called for in claim 1, together with a removeable perforated metering disk interposed between the operi innerend of said intake pipe section and said nozzle; the connection between said housing and said intake pipe section comprising a screw threaded connection and a shoulder interiorly ofv said housing for clamping said nozzle and disk in place.

4. A sprinkler comprising an elongated discharge pipe section having inner and outer ends and a bore encompassed by a cylindrical wall, a housing formed on the inner end of said pipe section having a side wall formed with air inlet openings and having an end wall formed with an opening leading to the bore of said dis charge pipe section at the inner end thereof, an intake pipe section having an end portion screwed into engagement with said housing in axial alignment with said discharge pipe section, a demountable perforated disk overlying said end portion of said intake pipe, a diverging deiiector member on said plate having an outer end portion extending through the opening in said housing end wall and terminating within the bor-e of said discharge pipe section in remote spaced relation to the outer end of said discharge pipe section, said end wall of said deiiector member having a circular margin spaced from and concentric with the cylindrical Wall of the bore of said discharge pipe section, a frustro-conical nozzle in said housing through which said delector member extends, said nozzle having an outlet presented to the opening in said housing end wall in close spaced relation thereto and having an inside diameter slightly exceeding the outside diameter of the outer end of said deflector member, and said nozzle having an inlet end exten-ding over said perforated disk in abutting relation thereto; and an adjustable spray producing means at the outer end of said discharge pipe.

EDWIN G. GETTINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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